Aloe plant named ‘EC-ALOE-1801’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Aloe cultivar named ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ is disclosed, characterized by green leaves with a distinctive red coloration to the marginal serration. Leaves are upright with a slight backward arch in the apical section. The new variety is an Aloe, typically produced as a garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Aloe hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘EC-ALOE-1801’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The seedparent is a hybrid from a cross between an unnamed, unpatented Aloeaculeata hybrid and the unpatented Aloe ‘Debora Zimmermann’. The pollenparent is the unpatented Aloe hybrid ‘Carmine’. The crossing was made induring 2013 in Sappemeer, The Netherlands at a commercial greenhouse.‘EC-ALOE-1801’ was discovered by the inventor in 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ was firstperformed in Sappemeer, The Netherlands, at a commercial laboratory bytissue culture in March 2015. ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ has since produced severalgenerations and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘EC-ALOE-1801.’ These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ as a new and distinct Aloecultivar:

-   1. Green leaves with a distinctive red coloration to marginal    serration.-   2. Upright foliage aspect with a slight backward curve toward the    apical section.

PARENTAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ are similar to the seed parentin most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the newvariety differ from the seed parent in the following:

-   -   1. New cultivar has a red serrate margin on green leaves, with        no dots; seed parent has a pink-red margin and pink-red dots on        green leaves.    -   2. New variety is a larger plant than the seed parent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ are similar to the pollenparent in most horticultural characteristics. However, plants of the newvariety differ in the following:

-   1. New cultivar has a red serrate margin on green leaves, the pollen    parent has red zigzag rim and red dots on green leaves.-   2. New variety is a larger plant than the pollen parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘EC-ALOE-1801’ can be compared to the unpatented commercial variety Aloe‘Christmas Sleigh.’ The two Aloe varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics; however, the new variety differs in thefollowing:

-   1. New cultivar has red marginal serrations on green leaves; this    comparator has a red marginal serrations and red dots on blue-green    leaves.-   2. New cultivar's leaves grow upright, while comparator's leaves    form a flat-shaped rosette.-   3. New variety's leaves are much more elongated; comparator's leaves    are wider at the base, and shorter.

‘EC-ALOE-1801’ can also be compared to the unpatented commercial varietyAloe ‘Debora Zimmermann.’ The two Aloe varieties are similar in mosthorticultural characteristics; however, the new variety differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. New cultivar has red marginal serrations on green leaves,        with no dots; comparator has a pink-red margin and pink-red dots        on green leaves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical flowering plant of ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ grown in a greenhouse inSappemeer, The Netherlands. This plant is approximately 25 weeks old,shown in a 10.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up view of the underside of the foliage.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of the upper-side of the foliage.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart, 2015 edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘EC-ALOE-1801’ plants in acommercial greenhouse in Sappemeer, The Netherlands. Temperatures rangedfrom 21° C. to 25° C. during the day, and 18° C. to 21° C. during thenight. No artificial light, photoperiodic treatments or chemicaltreatments were given to the plants. Natural light conditions wereapproximately 2500 to 3000 fc of light. Measurements and numericalvalues represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Aloe hybrid ‘EC-ALOE-1801.’.-   Age of the plant described: 25 weeks.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 20 to 25 days at 21° C.-   Root description: Fibrous. Brown, not accurately measured with the    R.H.S. chart.-   Propagation method: Tissue culture.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Basal rosette of upright leaves with inflorescence    carried above the leaf plane.-   Container size: 10.5 cm.-   Height: 16.7 cm to top of foliar plane.-   Plant spread: Approximately 18.9 cm.-   Growth rate: Low to moderate.-   Branching characteristics: Basal rosettes.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Average length.—14.8 cm.        -   Widest width.—3.4 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lanceolate, succulent.        -   Apex.—Long acuminate.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Margin.—Coarsely and bluntly dentate-serrate.        -   Aspect.—Upright with a slight outward arch in apical            section.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, glabrous, covered with a            thin waxy layer.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, glabrous, covered with a            thin waxy layer.        -   Quantity of leaves.—Approximately 13 per rosette.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 139A with            waxy layer RHS Greyed-Green N189D. Marginal serrations near            Red 41B. Young foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138A with            waxy layer RHS Greyed-Green N189D. Marginal serrations near            Red 41A. Mature foliage upper side: Between RHS Yellow-Green            147A and Greyed-Green 189A, with margin of Yellow-Green            145B. Waxy layer of Greyed-Green N189C-N189D. Marginal            serrations near Red 44C. Mature foliage under side: RHS            Yellow-Green 147A, with margin of Yellow-Green 145B. Waxy            layer of Greyed-Green N189C-N189D. Marginal serrations near            Red 43B.        -   Venation.—No visible veins.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Fall to Winter.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Compound raceme.-   Time to flower or response time: Average 10 months.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Approximately 42.-   Quantity of flowers per plant: 3.-   Total inflorescence size:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 27.2 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 9.5 cm.-   Flower bud:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.4 cm.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Shape.—Narrow oblong.        -   Color.—RHS Orange-Red 35C, fading to Yellow 11C-11D towards            the top. Outer tip Green N138C.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower type and form.—Single, tubular.        -   Aspect.—Nodding.        -   Habit.—Moderate.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Height.—0.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.75 cm.        -   Length.—2.4 cm.        -   Longevity on plant.—5 days.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.-   Sepals: No true sepals.-   Tepals:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rotate, tubular.        -   Number per flower.—6.        -   Number of whorls.—1.        -   Tepals fused.—No.        -   Length.—2.1 cm.        -   Width.—0.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Narrow oblong.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Margin undulation.—None.        -   Texture, upper and under sides.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Rugosity.—Both sides non-rugose.        -   Luster, upper and under sides.—Matte.        -   Color when opening, upper side.—RHS Orange-Red 32C, fading            to 36B towards the top. Outer tip Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Color when opening, under side.—RHS Orange-Red 35C, fading            to 36D towards the top. Outer tip Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Color fully opened, upper side.—RHS Orange-Red 32C, fading            to 36B towards the top. Outer tip Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Color fully opened, upper side.—RHS Orange-Red 35C, fading            to 36D towards the top. Outer tip Yellow-Green 146B.        -   Venation color fully opened, upper and under side.—RHS            Orange 26B.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Length.—2.4 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.8 cm horizontal; 0.75 cm vertical.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—41.6 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.25 cm.        -   Angle to lateral branch axis.—80 degrees.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous, covered with a thin waxy layer.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-Green 146A.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—0.7 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Angle to peduncle axis.—45 degrees.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture.—Smooth, Glabrous.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-Orange 173B to 173C.-   Bracts:    -   -   Shape.—Deltoid.        -   Length.—0.25 cm.        -   Width.—0.175 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Top.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-White 156D, veined Greyed-Brown 199B to            199D.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Average 6.        -   Filament length.—2.2 cm.        -   Filament color.—RHS Green-Yellow 1D, fading to White NN155A            towards base.        -   Anther length.—0.2 cm.        -   Anther color.—RHS Brown 200A.        -   Anther shape.—Narrow oblong, dorsifixed.        -   Pollen.—RHS Orange-Red 35C.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.8 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS Yellow-Green 154C, fading lighter towards            the base to Yellow-Green 150D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Pointed. Color: RHS Yellow-Green 150C. Ovary            color: RHS Yellow-Green N144B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: None observed to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Tolerates temperatures up to 40 degrees C.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests known to Aloe observed to date.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aloe plant named‘EC-ALOE-1801’ as herein illustrated and described.